I can honestly say that I don’t know a woman in my circle of friends that wouldn’t benefit in some way by reading and participating in the 40 day study that’s included with this book. What Happened to my Life? describes and works through how we can continue to grow and become the best us we can be. I believe this book can make a real difference in a woman’s outlook on the next part of her life. We become so focused on making everyone else happy – we sometimes forget that we are part of the equation.
I have found as I have reached my forties that I need to be refreshed and focus on making life better, because the past few years have been a trial in many ways for me, and I tend to focus on the negative. I can get frustrated really easily (TOO easily)! I get bored and wonder if this is all there is. Deep in my heart I don’t believe that, but when you get a focus like that in your head, it really is hard to back away from it. I have to keep reminding myself that what my life is and what it becomes it totally up to me!
This book guides you towards a refocus – a refreshingly honest and deeper look at your life from a Christian perspective. It reminds you how to live a really good, realistic, happy, fulfilling and joyful life. When your focus wanders, pull this out and work on getting yourself back on track.
It’s rare that you can find a book that deals with this subject matter. I read the title alone and knew I needed to read this book. It’s written by a woman who has gone through and experienced this phase of life. So you know it’s writing is coming from the heart and not from a textbook.
Good moms and wives don’t get bored, discouraged, anger or experience heartbreak…or do we?
Oh yes we do, but oftentimes rather than deal with it, we either keep it hidden away or we joke about it.
I encourage you to pick up this book and revive and rebuild yourself.
Life can be fabulous!
“Available May 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
I posted on Facebook and other places last week that my son was beginning his adult life. Moving out of our home and starting to live life on his terms. As his mom – I got emotional when it actually hit me he was moving out and would never again really be mine 100%. He’s always made me proud. He will always be my little boy with the sweet smile, blue eyes, chubby little cheeks; the little guy that always put others first – at least that’s what he will always be in my heart. I knew I couldn’t post anything right after he left or it would be overly emotional. Embarrassing him for all of eternity. :D
So, I waited. A whole week – and I sat and thought about some things I wanted to tell him. Again – I knew I would be overly mushy and mom-like…so I am going to simply throw out a reminder about a “song” that was popular just a few years back, or so it seems. There is a LOT of good advice in it…forgive me if I take a few liberties and add some truths I have found to be important in my own personal life – these are just some of the things I want him to know.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT!
The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proven by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. Trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are NOT as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blind side you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts and don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Let those you love know that you love them.
Let others know who the love of your life is; even on the days the love is harder to find.
Don’t let the everyday living take that love away – always keep your heart open to them.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Keep God first in your life – even when life throws you a curve ball. He is there during those times – you just have to remember that.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
When you do commit to something – do it to the best of your ability.
Take your daily vitamin D-3 – it helps keep you healthy.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either.
Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, your body is the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read muscle magazines, they will only make you feel inferior.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends will come and go, there are but a precious few you should hold onto for life.
Think before you act – will your actions hurt someone in a way that will destroy them or forever alter their lives in a bad way?
Don’t ever do that.
Be selfless; not selfish.
You can’t undo things you’ve already done.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography with your friends and family because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in a big city once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Spend your money wisely.
Don’t worry too much about your hair those that truly love you – don’t care about your hair.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
Love your mom (and dad too)! :D
But – trust me on the sunscreen.
May you live a blessed, full, exciting and VIBRANT life Matthew.
I am so very proud of you!
Keep going – make the world a better place.
Love you,
Mom
No, no, I am not talking campaign promises – Thank God!
I have learned to never say never in this life. There used to be things I would say, “I would never “fill in the blank”, I will always, “fill in the blank”. I would be very definitive in my thoughts and opinions.
Over the last few years I have learned the hard way that you can’t say “always” nor can you say “never” because when you do – it’s usually when you will be proven wrong. We can’t control others and we can’t control all the things around us. We can live our lives to the best of our abilities. We can and should always try to stay true to who we are in our hearts. However I have learned there are times when you will have to just learn to go with the flow. Whether you want to or not.
Life is moving you into a new direction; it can either be a struggle or you can work through it. I choose to work through those times and I usually appreciate the lesson once I get through to the other side of the process. There are things in my life that I thought were untouchable. Things that would be there forever. Nope, I was wrong! Looking back now, I am glad I was wrong. Sometimes though, when the changes first occured I felt like I had been knocked for a loop.
I have learned to expect that every day I will get just a little bit wiser. That’s a good thing! 
There are paths you go down and things you do that come into your life for a reason and a season. As you move through that season; you realize and begin to sense when you may be taking a new path at different points in your life. I am recently finding myself at that point. Not because I want to be – but because I currently have my life burning like a candle at both ends. It’s getting to be too much – my fire is going to go out due to sheer exhaustion.
I am at a point where I have taken a step back and I am evaluating what I want to do and where I want to be this time next year. You may have noticed that this last month I have been more quiet than I normally am here on the web. I haven’t deserted anything, I am just trying to figure some things out. I know this signals some changes for me and while that’s exciting it’s also a process that can seem painstakingly slow. I try to hang on to things that maybe I shouldn’t be hanging on to any longer. I love everything that I do. Many don’t realize everything I currently have on my plate. I don’t talk about my “day jobs” because to me – they are different. But I do them because I enjoy what I learn there. A quick list of what I do…I currently have two home businesses, I am an Office Manager at a Property Management Company, I am going to school for my real estate license and I am an Advertising Executive as well.
I love everything I do – but it’s just getting to be a little too much. I am in an evaluation period. I will decide and I will focus on what I enjoy – and that will be my focus. One thing may change, or several may change. That doesn’t mean I am fickle or undecided – that means I have outgrown something and I am ready for the next step in my life! Everything I choose to do – I do because I am interested in it. I love learning new things. I have had the luxury of trying some things – and then if they aren’t right, I can move on; for whatever reason.
That’s the beauty of not locking yourself into any one box. I hope I never lose the excitement of learning something new. It’s a challenge and it’s fun most of the time. I love learning – and I am looking forward to the next year, whatever it may hold. So know that I will be back, with more focus and new determination.
If I can share anything about the process it would be this: Don’t fight making changes in your life – just go with it, you may discover it’s the best thing you ever did!
Your best YOU – may be just around the corner!
Have a Good One,
Kiki
There are honestly days when I really wonder what happened to those beautiful babies I had! 
I have enjoyed each phase of my kids childhood – don’t get me wrong – as they get older, it’s nice that my husband and I can go out to dinner by ourselves and even hit the movies if we want to. However, there are also days that I just wonder if they even HEAR me anymore.
Take last night as an example… I had to run to the post office – but first I had to run up and get my oldest daughter (14) from speech club – while we were driving home I told her that I would appreciate it if she did her chores and put the laundry away while I was gone – especially after what she did with the cell phone just a couple of weeks ago! To add to that list, she is now going to two different homecoming dances; so I am paying for one of them so the boy she is going with doesn’t go totally broke.
When we got home from school, I told my youngest daughter that I wanted her to finish her homework so that would be done and out-of-the-way for the evening. I then ran out to do my errands while I know my beautiful children were at home, happily taking care of the few things I asked of them… AM I NUTS??? To say that I was WRONG is an understatement!!! I walked in and NOTHING – I mean NOTHING was done in the kitchen and the laundry I had washed, folded and hung was still sitting there.
I hollered to my daughter to get upstairs and get busy while I proceeded to finish getting their dinner. We had dinner, everything got cleaned up and at 9pm – yes, 9pm my youngest comes downstairs and asks her Daddy to help her with her…you got it…HOMEWORK. *SIGH* I really do believe I am a reasonable mom about the chores and the requests I make of my children – I really, really do believe in balance. I also believe my children love me.
However, I now believe they are all out to make me go insane. By the time they are all out on their own – I believe I will be reduced to a babbling crazy woman. I have a management background – “PRE-children” – back then, when I asked someone to do something – it got done! Granted, not always the way I wanted – but even then, it would be corrected and completed without too much delay.
I was not aware at the time how blessed I was! Now when one of my children do listen – or, when miracle of miracles they do something extra without my having to ask, WOW, you can bet the trumpets sound and they learn what gratitude is from their mom! I just wish they would understand they could still get lots of gratitude from me just by listening to what I ask of them.
Listening and taking action – that’s all it would take – REALLY! I would smile more and play games and I might even be willing to run them up to the coffee shop to hang out when I’d rather be relaxing at home. So today, in honor of all the babbling crazy moms in training out there – I give you a very funny – somewhat annoying clip!
Please visit Anita Renfroe’s site if you get the chance – she’s a very funny lady.
Enjoy and I Hope You Have a Blessed Day!
Kiki
I have commented before that I have adjusted my diet to work for me and my particular needs. However, one thing I refuse to give up is my coffee. A girl has got to have something special in her food life.
I love coffee.
It’s my one indulgence and there are health benefits, so I feel justified.
This time of year, I enjoy iced coffee. But at over $4 at the specialty coffee places – well, it really got a bit difficult to feel good about spending that kind of money for a refreshment.
Last year, on one of my many trips to the bookstore I happened upon a Toddy Maker. It’s a convenient way to cold-brew coffee. It’s a rather messy job without this item, and I don’t like messy, so this fit the bill.
How do you use it?
You fresh grind a pound of coffee – coarsely ground. Your choice as to what kind – experiment and find your favorite. Wet the filter and place it in the slot in the bottom of the large white brewer and put the stopper or plug-in the hole underneath. Then, pour 1 cup filtered water into the brewer and half of your ground coffee. Slowly add 3 more cups of filtered water. Then, I let it set about 5 minutes to give the grinds time to get wet – then I add 5 more cups of water for a total of 9 cups, gently tap the top to be sure all the grinds are wet. Let this set on your counter for 12 hours (I put a plate on top to keep dust, etc…out of the brew). I recommend starting your brew in the evening so it’s ready by morning. Then, get the glass decanter ready, pull the plug from the bottom of the bucket and place it on top of the decanter. I let this drain for 30 minutes to an hour – when I come back I have a full decanter of coffee concentrate. Finally, I take a spoon to the top of the grinds and press just to be sure I have all the brew out of the grinds. Put the lid on this coffee concentrate and it will keep up to 14 days in the refrigerator.
The wonderful thing about this is you have less waste because you only make what you will use. You can also make your drinks at the strength you prefer. I personally use 1:2 ratio – 1 portion coffee to 2 portions water a splash of cream and 4 drops of stevia – YUM! Simply adjust to your tasting preferences. You can heat it up in the microwave, use it for iced coffee, make desserts with it – any number of things.
What is the benefit?
Less acidic – this concentrate is perfect for those that have stomach issues or heartburn – you may be able to tolerate this coffee – your body digests it more easily.
Less caffeine – The taste is smooth and quite sweet – to me it tastes more like the wonderful scent created when you are brewing hot coffee.
Recipes – There are many great recipes that call for instant coffee – you can use your coffee concentrate and get a wonderfully smooth, sweet coffee flavor.
Do you prefer tea?
You can also use this to make concentrated cold brewed tea – using loose leaf tea – use a half pound of tea leaves and 9 cups filtered water – and do the same process as stated above.
To make a hot tea – 1 part tea to 7 parts water.
For iced - simply add ice.
RECIPE:
Low-Carb Iced Chocolate Coffee
1 part cold brewed coffee concentrate
1 part water
2 part cream or half n’ half
Wonderslim Pure Fat-Free Cocoa Powder to taste
Liquid Vanilla Creme Stevia to taste
I blend this together for about 20 seconds – add ice cubes and whipped cream on top if you like - just delicious.
(To explain “part” in the recipes – if you are making a regular sized drink 1 part would be 1/4 cup – if you want a large drink – it may be 1/2 cup per part – it’s up to you!)
Low-Carb Hot Coffee
1 part coffee concentrate
2 parts boiling hot water
Cream and stevia to your liking.
Some prefer to heat the concentrate too – it’s up to you.
ENJOY!
~Kiki Vogel
About this time every year, my family and I get hooked on Watermelon.
It’s just the perfect food this time of year. So, of course that gets me to thinking about what does it do that’s good for the body overall. No, I am not a doctor, but I have a great interest in building my family’s and my health, so I study a LOT – it’s my hobby. Just don’t give me a test – I hate testing. I thought it would be interesting to learn about some of the different foods we eat – and that I would blog about them – share some of the ways we eat them and in so doing – the information gets locked into my head as well. So consider this the first of hopefully many more posts to come.
I would like to note that while all the different foods we eat offer some wonderful health benefits – there is no one food that is going to cure this or that issue. The info I share is just what the different nutrients in the foods HELP our bodies with…again I am not a doctor and for any in-depth health advice you should ALWAYS seek out your doctor! I’m just a mom interested in keeping myself and my family and friends as healthy as possible. I won’t bore you with details on every little nutrient – but I will make you feel good about what you are eating!
Watermelon is best in the summer months, because it’s so fresh, cold and sweet – but it can be found year round. The quality, outside of the summer months is not nearly as wonderful. It has a fresh, crispy, juicy taste – being that it’s 92% alkaline water (very good for your stomach). Believe it or not, a watermelon has half the sugar of an apple – but the water content allows it to taste as sweet and wonderful as it does. Some have seeds, and some are considered seedless, however don’t be surprised if you find some smaller seeds in the seedless. No worries though, they can be eaten right along with the melon and you rarely even notice them. There is the traditional pink as well as orange, white and yellow watermelon.
I have read that pink is best for cancer fighting properties and the yellow/orange is great for the eyes.
Watermelon is really a health powerhouse of a fruit.
There are many health benefits associated with watermelon.
Watermelon is alkalizing, which is good for the body. It is used to help fight inflammation, neutralize free radicals, oxidize cholesterol, it helps to improve insulin sensitivity, it even helps with erectile dysfunction (think natural Viagra). It’s antibacterial (minimizes bad breath), antioxidant, and anticoagulant. It can have a diuretic and laxative effect (helping with constipation), and it cleanses the kidneys and the bladder. It’s like a natural energy drink due to all the B vitamins present. It prevents heat stroke and exhaustion, alleviates symptoms of arthritis, helps treat heart disease, lessens airway spasms from asthma, fights cancers, including prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and colorectal. Watermelon helps prevent macular degeneration(yellow), and it relieves symptoms of gout. The rind can even help with heat rash – cut up the rind, place it in the refrigerator and then place on the rash – it will help relieve the rash.
If you choose to use/eat the rind it’s really best to go organic to avoid the pesticides used.
Vitamins/Minerals:
Excellent Source of Vitamin C (protects the body and it’s an important for structural component in the body), Vitamin A (beta-carotene), potassium (electrolyte and helps the kidneys), silicon (helps with connective tissues, strengthens bones and more), glutathione (treats toxicity), and lycopene (pink – fights cancers), chlorophyll (detoxifies and cleanses), citruline (good for relaxing the blood vessels), calcium (bone health),magnesium (benefits are endless), potassium (regulates blood pressure), selenium (fights cancer, helps mood). Fats: Has some omega 6 fatty acids. Amino Acids: alanine, arginine (improves blood flow), aspartate, glutamate, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine.
1 cup of watermelon has just 49 calories
Selection Process:
The Watermelon should be smooth, not too shiny and not really light in color or dull. A nice deep green with a sweet smell. It should feel heavy for its size and when you thump it you should hear a hollow sound. One side, where it rests in the dirt should have a yellow or cream color – if it’s white or not present it won’t taste as good. Watermelon is best fully ripe as that increases the antioxidant levels.
Preparation:
Wash the outside with a cloth. Cut it into slices, chunk it up into pieces, use a melon baller – whatever you prefer. Most prefer the sweet flesh but you can eat the white part – and the rind. Eat the flesh, including some of the white and then you can pickle the rind so none of the fruit goes to waste. The seeds are edible as well – some dehydrate or roast them with salt/seasonings and eat them as a snack – it’s said that the seeds contain something that helps strengthen the kidneys. While most prefer to eat melon as is, there are some wonderful recipes to enhance your usage of this wonderful fruit.
Fresh Watermelon Lemon/Lime Cooler
1 fresh squeezed lemon or lime 1 cup watermelon – seedless – blended to puree 1/2 cup water or seltzer water if you like bubbly Liquid Stevia to taste – I do two drops Fresh mint leaf and ICE
Fill your glass with ice
Blend the above ingredients together and pour – add the mint leaf and crush it into your drink.
Get a straw and relax on your back porch!
Cold Melon Soup
Puree watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and kiwi together, pour in a bowl, top with sunflower seeds or chopped almonds and a sprig of mint.
Summer Mel-Onion Salad
1 melon – melon balled 1 red onion – very thinly sliced 1/4 cup cilantro leaves – shredded salt and black pepper to taste Mix together and serve.
Fruit Salad
Simply cut up any fruits you love, add some almond slivers or sunflower seeds – YUM!
Sorbet
Whole Melon cut up grated lime peel pinch of salt few drops of stevia to taste – I don’t like it real sweet!
Puree together and freeze.
I put it in ice-cube trays and buzz them in my blender for a few seconds when I am ready to eat some – ahhhh, refreshing!
~Kiki
July 4th – a day typically spent with family and friends in celebration of our country and the servicemen and women that protect us, our rights and our freedoms.
I love July 4th.
It’s the first holiday my husband and I really spent together when we were first dating. It’s the day I knew I loved this man and wanted to be with him always.
Needless to say – this day is important to me still for that very reason. I was up early getting family picnic prepared that morning. Despite the rain.
My phone rings – I didn’t recognize the number but I answered anyway because it was my business line. Now, keep in mind – at this point in my life, and with my current product line – my target market is women. Every once in a blue moon I get a man who orders for his wife – but its very, very rare. I answer the phone and it’s a man on the line. He said his name – (I couldn’t understand him). He also said he was calling me from Facebook.
He proceeds to ask me how I am – I say, “I am great – how are you?”
He says he’s good and there is a pause.
I say, “Is there something I can help you with?”
He then states (remember, it’s the weekend AND a holiday) “Well, I just thought I would call and talk, you know, say hello – you seem so nice on Facebook – what are you doing right now?” I then said, “Well, it’s July 4th and I am with my family.” I really didn’t know what to say – I was so uncomfortable with this call! I said nothing more. It was definitely my turn to pause…and I did. He then said, “Well, why don’t you call me back when you have time, you sound preoccupied.”
I quickly hung up the phone.
That situation spurred me to write this message. I have watched some other things going on with Facebook as well, and I feel the need to address some of them here on my blog. I am not the Facebook police, but I am hoping it will make a difference for someone.
Proper Protocol (Etiquette) when Networking on Facebook
1. Do not call people “just to talk” that you do not personally know. Unless they have asked you to do so.
Especially members of the opposite sex that clearly state they are happily married with children.
2. Do not open a chat with someone to hit them up with your business opportunity. I have my business. I love it – I am not interested in joining yours.
With that said – if we get to know each other through conversation ON FACEBOOK - I may want to know more about your business so we can truly network in the future. That is why I have the friends I do – I want to network and learn from everyone. I know that my opportunities are not right for everyone, but someone else’s might be perfect for them. I happily refer my friends to others when appropriate.
3. Do not send a mass email to your Facebook friends asking them to buy from you. Facebook is about building relationships. Share what you do – but in a non-offensive way. You gain so much when you sincerely reach out to others without your business in mind. As conversation progresses, go ahead and discuss it if you both mutually move towards that.
4. When I get a friend request and I approve the friendship – I do NOT want you to post an ad on my profile page. I friend most everyone – but I would expect you to be a friend first – and then share what you have to offer later.
5. If I did not ask you for information about your business opportunity – I probably won’t respond to a message that pushes only that on me – social media is about relationships – and building them in the right way is always the BEST way.
6. If you are the opposite sex – please act appropriately. My profile shares that I am happily married, with children and that I have my own business.
You can safely assume from that – I am not interested in anything other than networking with other like-minded business people and friends.
7. There are all kinds of different beliefs in social media – religious, political, etc…I always try to allow others to share their beliefs and feelings on their profile – and I do NOT attack them. It’s their profile and they have the right to be who they are on their profile. There should not be attacks from someone with a different view.
8. If someone posts something and ASKS for debate; that’s a whole different ballgame. Both sides need to be heard without degrading the other person. Believe it or not, that is possible. If you know you have a temper – it’s probably best to stay out of the fire. Name calling and belittling others is no way to act – I think we forget there is a person on the other side of that conversation. Not just a computer.
9. It’s really not a good idea to post recruiting or sales pitches on your profile as your status. It looks desperate – if you have a special – great – post it on your Notes page. Your status will share that you have posted a note – those that are interested will go and read the note. If you have a blog – post it on there and have your blog post to your status – that way a link is provided is someone wants to know more about your sale or offer.
10. Finally – before doing business with others on Facebook. Please remember that people do have the ability to label themselves as a professional or expert on this or that subject – when truly they are nothing of the kind. Do your research – find out about the person you are considering doing business with before throwing your money at them. Social Media has created many “Experts” and they just simply are not.
11. Create a PAGE on Facebook that is about your business. Friends can become Fans on your page. When they do that – they are inviting you to share information about your business. I recommend posting to your PAGE regularly. I am friendly on Facebook. I am friendly in real life too. :)
I love my friends on Facebook! I do want to learn about you and what you do. I really do want to know about you so we can effectively network. I myself have made many business connections, reconnected with old friends, stay in touch with my family, and have made many new friends via Facebook. It’s a fabulous tool when used properly. Don’t get me wrong – it’s ok to share about everything you do. There is the Info page, there are Boxes, you can post Notes on there. I have my Blog on there and it posts to my profile page as a new blog post – it also posts to my Notes page.
When interacting with people though – my focus is to share my day-to-day thoughts and ideas, fun things I come across, things I am thinking about and business information that gets shared in a natural way – rather than forcing it on others. I share enough to create questions & interest about what I do. My rule of thumb is to let people approach me about what I do – then I know they want to know about my business – it works great that way! :) It only becomes uncomfortable when someone uses it inappropriately. I am sure there are many other things I have left out here – this is just what came to mind over the last few days as I continued to think about that phone call I received on July 4th.
If you have some other tips – please share!
Living Vibrantly,
Kiki
A long time ago, in a far-off land… (Ok, just kidding!)… Although, I think I was living in Florida at the time, so for me, that is now a far-off land.
Anyway, I read a little affirmation about Attitude. It really made an impact on my thinking, and how I approach people on a day-to-day basis.
When I first started in direct sales, I was coming from Corporate America. Not the easiest place to build a good attitude. The reason I left my corporate job? I wanted to raise my own children. I wanted to get off the Merry-Go-Round. I knew I was more than capable of starting my own business and being successful. However, as I started down that path – I quickly learned the impact my attitude could have on others. I could be a positive or a negative influence. In the direct sales world – you should always strive to be a positive, uplifting person because that is what draws so many women to direct sales in the first place.
You know, in the corporate world as you crawled up the ladder of success you really needed to make sure everyone around you knew of your importance. You needed to make yourself more distant and unapproachable. Come across as the leading professional that you are in order to keep your peers uncomfortable. Making them feel they could never reach the same levels of success as you. Yes, I was literally taught that. It was very early in my professional career too, so it was easy to learn. I was told that it would keep me safe from those that wanted my job.
Thankfully – that attitude was something I was able to unlearn quite quickly. Had I not done so – my success would have been tarnished. I knew the women I was working with on my team, as well as company wide were coming into this business to make some money, at whatever level they wanted. Some were joining for friendship, and others needed their hearts, and their spirits built up. Direct Sales is a great place to do all of those things. It’s even better when you are in a company that cares about each and every person in the business from the top owner to the newest signed representative. I will talk and work with anyone – even outside of my own company!
I have dedicated myself to serving others and I have found the rewards to be worth far more than the investment I have had to make. I believe my success in life will be in direct proportion to what I do AFTER I have done what I am expected to do. I strive to go the extra mile and make others realize how very important they are to me and to those in their circle of influence. Treat others with respect and care and it is most often returned. When it isn’t, you know you did the very best that you were able to. For me, that’s the bottom line. When I lay my head down on my pillow – I want to know that no one was hurt or made to feel less important – for any reason – when they were in my space.
I have been in that place one too many times myself in this life and I never want to be the one to make someone feel that way. Am I perfect, no. Life is often two steps forward and one step back – if you slip into old habits, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep your eye on the future! I know there are times when we are disappointed or frustrated or even angry. Rather than spew negativity at everyone that comes down your path – quietly take your concern to someone who can do something or who can advise you as to what you should do. When you get negative in front of others – it creates more negative feelings as it emanates outward through your circle of influence.
You’ve seen the pebble thrown into a quiet lake – the ripples begin really small and compact and quietly those ripples get larger and larger until that small disturbance that the pebble created has now become a huge ring in the body of water. The same thing happens when we become negative, angry, whining etc…it affects everyone around you.
ATTITUDE
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.
It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, then what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
-Charles Swindoll-
When women hear the amount of weight I have lost thus far, they want to know how, and why.
When I share this, I often get asked the question, “Isn’t eating all that fat bad for you?”
First of all, I don’t eat “just” fat – I eat healthy proteins and lots of veggies too! Admittedly, my fat intake is higher due to my way of eating, however, the fat is not bad for you. That is a battle I will undoubtedly have to continue to pursue. My cholesterol levels fell with my new way of eating – they were between 205 – 210 prior to eating this way now my level is 150. My blood pressure is good – everything in my life is better now that I have been eating a low-carb diet. I still do not eat grain, sugar, four or many starchy veggies – and I am not suffering because of that.
I eat healthy real foods. I don’t even use artificial sweeteners anymore – I have switched to Stevia. The only time I do is when I eat the sugar-free jello and that is for family birthdays – because my children would be upset if I didn’t have something with them while they eat their cake. No, I have not forced my family to take on my dietary habits – I know very well that you must allow people to make their own decisions about what they will and will not eat.
We have been misled about so much via the media and doctors that use partial information to perform their scientific studies. They release them to the public and the public just believes everything they read – please don’t fall for that. Do your own research and determine what is best for you, your body and your health.
Watch this very interesting video:
Have a blessed day!
Kiki Vogel
Now admittedly I haven’t been following all the hoopla around the candidates…simply because I honestly am not thrilled with ANY of our options.
I feel that the political arena has become so focused on “focus” groups that just don’t include most of us.
I also find all the back-stabbing, name calling, and other elementary antics that go on early in the campaigns BORING! I really am at a loss as to how I want to vote this time – I am tired – tired of politics – tired of being labeled a republican or democrat – tired of these Senators that live the good life thanks to the taxes I pay. The same senators that are focusing in on things that just don’t matter to most of us.
I think most of us are concerned – concerned about the housing market, concerned that our gas prices continue to rise, and concerned that more and more people are being let go from their jobs here in the US because our work is sent out of this country because it’s cheaper to do it elsewhere. These are the things that concern me and so many others that I talk to. Honestly, I have a home business – I drive a lot – these gas prices are ridiculous and yet there is no plan to get something done about it!
It was refreshing today to come across this video by Joe – Joe American.
Wow – here is someone who makes sense and has some solutions to at least some of the things that are concerns for many. His ideas would have a trickle down effect on several other issues as well. Why can’t the candidates talk like this – make a plan, share it, get us talking about it and follow through with it. Quit focusing on getting this or that groups vote and get the AMERICAN Vote – that’s what we all are – bottom line! Talk to ALL of us – put your focus on America and all of us that live here. I think Republicans and Democrats would quit being so divided if we could just find a candidate that was concerned with making America better overall.
We are divided simply because there is not a really good choice for any of us – so we are dividing ourselves by picking whichever side we personally feel is the lesser of two evils to our country. Such a shame! I do hope Obama and McCain listen to this and take some serious notes. Have a wonderful day everyone!
Take a look:
